Policy Library

8 documents

Terminal Disclaimers of Patent Rights: Background and Issues for Congress
Congressional Research Service · 2025-02-24 · Posts · 2,589 words · PDF available
Terminal disclaimers are a legal mechanism that allows a patent holder or applicant to relinquish part of a patent’s term, so that the patent expires earlier than it would without the disclaimer. Whil...
Introduction to U.S. Economy: Unemployment
Congressional Research Service · 2025-02-24 · Resources · 1,310 words · PDF available
This In Focus provides an introduction to the official unemployment rate and alternative measures of unemployment, briefly examines the reasons for unemployment, and places the unemployment rate in a ...
DOD Policy Changes: Reproductive Health Benefits
Congressional Research Service · 2025-02-24 · Posts · 1,038 words · PDF available
The Department of Defense (DOD) offers certain reproductive health services through the Military Health System and its TRICARE program to approximately 9.5 million beneficiaries comprised of serviceme...
Pricing Amendments to the Federal Milk Marketing Orders
Congressional Research Service · 2025-02-24 · Resources · 1,590 words · PDF available
The Federal Milk Marketing Order (FMMO) system was authorized in the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937 (50 Stat. 246). FMMOs are geographically defined fluid-milk demand areas. Under FMMO l...
Trump Administration Environmental-Justice-Related Executive Orders: Potential Implications for EPA Programs
Congressional Research Service · 2025-02-24 · Resources · 1,516 words · PDF available
In January 2025, President Trump issued executive orders (E.O.s) that revoked prior E.O.s, including E.O.s related to environmental justice. Another Trump Administration E.O. directed federal agencies...
Letters of Support for Grant Seekers: Considerations for a Congressional Office
Congressional Research Service · 2025-02-24 · Resources · 1,501 words · PDF available
Congressional Member offices are often approached by constituents who are applying for federal grants and would like the Member to write a letter of support to accompany the application. The handling...
Introduction to U.S. Economy: Productivity
Congressional Research Service · 2025-02-24 · Resources · 1,553 words · PDF available
What Is Productivity? Productivity is broadly defined as the ratio of output to inputs. With respect to the economy, productivity measures how efficiently goods and services can be produced by compari...
Short-Term Rental Markets: A Primer
Congressional Research Service · 2025-02-24 · Resources · 1,747 words · PDF available
Short-term rentals (STR) do not have an official definition but are generally furnished homes or rooms rented for fewer than 30 days, often for tourism or short-term business travel. STRs have a long ...